My name is Emily Miles and I’m a Marriage and Family Therapist practicing in California and New Mexico via telehealth. I have a M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University and a Certificate in Substance Abuse Counseling from the University of the Pacific. My journey to mental health counseling began in 2011 as a volunteer group counseling facilitator for those who have experienced intimate partner violence, physical and/or sexual abuse. My experience with Yes ICAN cemented my interest in the mental health field and confirmed what I always knew, I was meant to be in this profession.
I went on to obtain my Substance Abuse Counselor certificate from University of the Pacific so I could continue to help those in need. This was motivated by witnessing people in my life battle with addiction. I loved helping teens overcome their addiction but I realized quickly that there was a root factor that I wasn’t able to address with my current level of training so I applied to graduate school to become a Marriage and Family Therapist.
Throughout my education journey I gained 8 years of experience working in the community mental health setting as an employment specialist, case manager/counselor and therapist before making the move to private practice. In community mental health I working with individuals who were low income, experiencing homelessness, and experiencing issues with the law (probation, court mandates, prison/jail release). I worked closely with the Los Angeles court system in facilitating these services.
I opened up my private practice in 2021 and left 8 years working with individuals in the community to do so. It’s important to me to continue to give back to my community, so I do provide limited sliding scale options for those who experience financial hardship. I also continue to work with individuals attached to the legal system and can provide documentation for mandated therapy. People come to me for reasons that include anxiety, relationship or communication issues, addiction, toxic patterns, depression, and trauma.
I believe in a collaborative approach to therapy where we begin with open discussion about my client’s goals. I then pick my approach based on how best to help my client reach their goals. My approach tends to be person centered and strength based. I have extensive training and experience in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety, depression, OCD and psychosis. I’ve also completed training for Cognitive Processing Therapy, a form of CBT for trauma. For more information about what to expect from CBT, read this blog.
Last thing you should know about me is that I’m a therapist who believes in therapy. I’ve gone through therapy myself and find it to be very valuable and think that every therapist should have experience being a client. I know from personal experience how difficult and vulnerable therapy feels, and I also know how transformative it can be. It is the greatest honor of my life to be in a field where I’m trusted with people’s pain then allowed to witness the transformation of healing.
In 2023 I wrote a book! Well, a journal. Current and previous clients get a discount (just ask) or you can purchase the PDF download here. Happy Journaling!
Volunteer Work
It has always been important to me to be involved in my community. As a therapist, our code of conduct including finding ways to do this. In 2022 I joined the board for Susan’s Legacy, a nonprofit organization in Albuquerque that provides free mental health services to women in the community dealing with co-occuring issues and often housing insecurity.
In 2023 I joined the board for the New Mexico Counseling Association, the local branch of the American Counseling Association.
What Is Therapy?
If you are new to therapy you may be wondering what to expect. I like the image above because it shows how therapy can help you make sense of your feelings and experiences. Before our first session I will send you documents to review and sign. We will set the fee and I will gather information to better understand what you hope to gain from therapy. Do you want to improve your mood or interpersonal skills such as communication? Perhaps you are looking to grieve a loss or process an old wound. Regardless of what brings you to therapy, my goal is to lend you a helping hand and guide you toward realizing your own strengths and abilities that will help you to navigate through life’s challenges. Therapy ends when your goal has been reached or when my services no longer serve you. While therapy is a collaboration, remember that it is YOUR therapy. If you would like to schedule a therapy consultation, fill out the form here.